Union MoS for Home on two-day visit to State
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has urged the Union Home Ministry to raise two more Indian Reserve Battalion to tackle the rise in insurgent activities in Meghalaya.
The State Government made the request to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ramachandran Mullappally, who is currently on a two-day visit to Meghalaya to take stock of the law and order situation in the State.
Talking to media persons after his meeting with Ramachandran, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said the State Government has also urged the Union Home Ministry to raise Home and Hearth and Ecology Battalions to tackle the activities of militants including the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) which has unleashed a reign of terror in Garo Hills for the past several months.
“These battalions would help in providing employment opportunities to the youths of the State,” Dr Sangma added.
During the meeting, which was also attended by senior police officials, the State Government also asked the Centre to intensify border patrolling along the Indo-Bangla border considering that many insurgent groups are functioning from the neighbouring country.
The Chief Minister also admitted that many insurgent groups of the North East were using Meghalaya as their corridor.
Earlier while talking to media persons, the Union MoS assured that the Centre would extend all possible help and support to the State Government to neutralize the militant outfits.
Reacting to a query, Mullappally also asserted that the State Government was capable of dealing with the militant outfits including the dreaded GNLA.
The State Government also requested the Central Government to provide all assistance in further strengthening the anti-infiltration directorate to prevent entry of illegal immigrants into the State.
Another major issue which was discussed at the meeting was the strengthening of the State Traffic Police department since two important National Highways (40 and 44), which interlinks different states of the North East, passes through the State.
“These roads are of national importance and so we have sought for strengthening of the Traffic Police department,” Dr Sangma said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that Mullappally would visit the border areas of the State on Friday to review the progress of the border fencing work.